Key pieces worth spending money on

How often have you spent money on a piece of seasonal clothing only to discover that after a few washes it doesn’t look half as good as it did when you first bought it? The trouble with buying cheaper items from the high street is that they often don’t have longevity so while you might feel like you’re getting a bargain at the time, usually you will end up having to repurchase a similar item time and time again. This season it might be time to consider some investment purchasing. Taking time to save up and purchase one item rather than spending the same amount of money on a number of cheaper alternatives will prove more sustainable and worthwhile in the long run.

These items will underpin your wardrobe and become the basis of 'your style'. Paring down your wardrobe in favor of fewer pieces that you truly love, rather than an abundance of clothes you may never wear. This is something that I do when I work with clients; to re-educate them on re-establishing a 'working wardrobe' that fits into their lifestyle and budget. I for one have become a huge advocate for this way of living as it’s made getting ready in the morning a hundred times quicker.

Below are the pieces that I believe are worth spending money on, the ones that will stand the test of time and you will still be wearing in years to come. The key thing to look out for when purchasing investment items is making sure that you don’t purchase a trend piece, instead go for a classic style so that it won’t date. This season make room in your wardrobe for the most trusted pieces that never go out of style.

These timeless pieces are wardrobe investments; season after season, year after year these are the pieces that you will be pulling out of your wardrobe with confidence.

1. Leather Jacket

While a real leather jacket won’t come cheap, nothing beats the feel and look of real leather. A jacket that will almost see you through all seasons so this piece is certainly worth the investment once you consider cost-per-wear. Leather jackets from Whistles and All Saints are top of the shopping list.

2. Jeans

The importance of a good pair of jeans is unrivaled, these are often the most reliable and well-worn item in your wardrobe. Brands will come and go but nothing beats Levi's for me at the moment, they have re-established themselves as a key player against expensive more fashionable brands. Go check them out.

3. Leather handbag

Perhaps the ultimate investment piece a leather bag is the everyday piece that you’ll carry for years to come. Designer handbags are also great investments as some even increase in value over time, such as classic Chanel bags. You don’t need to splash out on high end designer for a long-lasting handbag, but do aim for genuine leather as it will maintain its shape and appearance longer than any other material. I love British designers such as Mulberry, Anya Hindmarch and Sophie Hulme.

4. Coat

Once you know your body shape and what is the best coat for your shape then buying the perfect coat is key. Once you go for a great flattering style with not too many modern or ‘on-trend’ details this piece won’t date and will serve you well for years to come. Look at brands such as Max Mara, Joesph and Reiss.

5. Ankle boots

Not only practical but stylish too, the easiest way to sharpen up a casual outfit is with a pair of leather ankle boots. A pointed toe will give an added element of sophistication while a classic round toe or slightly square will also look stylish for seasons to come. Black is a classic but you can also go for brown, grey or deep burgundy, shades that will be hard workers in your wardrobe. Shop at Kurt Geiger or Whistles for some more affordable yet still sturdy, long-lasting options.

6. Shirts

I think shirts are a style staple and the most versatile item in your wardrobe as there is more than one way to wear a shirt. Easy pieces such a denim, checks, stripes and a plain white shirt will never go out of style, but you might change the way you wear them season to season. Look at &other stories, Zara and Boden for some good quality shirts.

7. Belts

Belts can be worn for waist definition or just an added outfit perk. By wearing belts with your jeans you could be rocking a statement in itself, or wrapping them around a chunky knitted jumper you could be using the belt to accentuate your waist. Whatever the purpose of the belt make sure it isn't boring. A leopard print belt or studded biker belt will change up your outfit taking it from drab to fab!

do you love it or loathe it?

You'll find few colours as divisive as pink. It's loathed as much as it is loved. It's been a colour that has been on trend for a number of seasons now and doesn't show any sign of going away for AW16. This season the big fashion houses sent it down the catwalks; Balmain, Preen and Chanel being at the forefront.

Although it's typically girly, there are plenty of pink tones out there that don't feel sickly sweet and crucially come in more grown-up silhouettes. There is definately a place in my wardrobe for pinks, the shades of pink that are in my Winter colour palette - Deep hot pink and Icy pink, two different ends of the pink colour spectrum. This season I'm looking for the paler more icy pink to add into my Autumn wardrobe that will sit with navy, burgundy and grey. For more pink styling inspiration following my pinterest board - pink reigns in AW16

In the coming months the high street will be awash with pink. Marks and Spencer have done a gorgeous pair of satin trousers that would suit all ages, Finery London's folded a-line skirt is for the brave and the beautiful, while River Island, Warehouse and Boden all have pink coats that are boyish in shape. But if you are new to pink then start off with the basics, such as a pair of pink shoes worn with skinny denim jeans or a tomboyish pink sweater. The item for me is the must-have pink coat, but with so many to choose from I'm in danger of having a sugary sweet powdery pink overload!

So perhaps it's time to channel your inner girl and give into the deliciously bubblegumness of the cool-girl pink this season. It's still going to be a hit for SS17, so invest now. Your wardrobe will thank you for it, so gone on...I dare you!

What to buy now in pink

1.  Jagger Coat - Sezane £250

2. Belshaw fold A-line skirt - Finery London £75

3. Limited Edition mohair jumper - Zara £59.99

4. Caged flats in leather - J Crew £168.00

5. Cedar street Magnolia cross body bag - Kate Spade £178.00

Edits guide on how to dress as you get older

edits styling tips

The pursuit of individual and personal style becomes much more important as you get older. But as you get older your style changes less. What changes is your outlook on life and your opinion on style and fashion.

As you get older you care more about quality over quantity. You’re looking for something that has a little bit of longevity – not just in terms of style but also physically lasting a little bit longer. The key is to be true to yourself and confident about what you like. It’s not necessarily about what’s in fashion, it’s what you love for you and your style. Perhaps you have never been comfortable in structured clothes, for example, so now is the time to accept that. Perhaps you can’t wear high heels because you can’t walk fast enough in them, so wear flats all the time.

Getting the classic's right is a simple approach to your wardrobe but one that works. If you start with a very classic approach to your clothes, you can add anything flamboyant to that. If you start the other way round, it’s much harder to tone it down afterwards. Start with the boring bit, then add to make it feel more relevant to what is going on in fashion.

Women who dress and age well.

A camel coat is a true wardrobe classic regardless of season or trends. The same with a V-neck jumper and a white cotton shirt. It’s that simple approach to fashion that allows you to dress it up as much as you want, or dress it down. It still leaves a lot of it up to you. But women are loving fashion at all ages now, it’s cross-generational. Think of how jeans have become the norm. Women are wearing jeans into their seventies but their mother's before them would never have worn them. Now you can wear leopard print when you’re sixty but it doesn’t mean you look like Bet Lynch– unless you want to. And if you want to wear sequins, you can wear sequins.

Of course there are still compromises to be made the older we get. But as long as you retain your style personality, just move it on so it becomes more relevant to the age you are.

If you need a helping hand to find your style then call me now for a free consultation.

Can you wear converse with everything?

edits styling notes

This humble sneaker has long been owned by many of us and considered as one of our wardrobe staples. But should it be elevated to 'hero' due to it's ability to multi-task within our wardrobes? No longer a sports shoe, the classic Chuck Taylor has made it's way into the fashion mainstream. The timeless all-white sneaker is all the rage — again. Actually I don’t think it ever really went away. And just like denim jeans and the classic white shirt, the white sneaker is also ageless, classless and timeless. Just what every woman needs!

Last week Alexa Chung was seen on the beach with hers, gone are the Birkenstocks of last year, her old faithfuls went on holiday with her this year.

For several years now, a younger fashion set have ditched their predecessors’ love of stilettos for more sensible footwear — mostly sneakers — a trend coined as “normcore”. Needless to say the fashion industry, which often takes its cues from the street, has in recent seasons featured more athletic-inspired and the very on-trend sports luxe looks on the runways. As a consequence the traditional sports shoe has transformed into more contemporary versions and is being paired with everything from couture to casual.

So to prove how versatile they are, I set myself the challenge of whether my white converse high-tops can be worn with everything in my wardrobe, read on for the outcome....

1. Dungeree's + Converse = A timeless duo

2. Jumpsuit + converse = Will never go out of style

3. Jeans + sweater + converse = Relaxed weekend look

4. Trousers + converse = Sports luxe look

5. Flowery dress + converse = A match made in heaven

6. Tailored masculine pieces + converse = Most stylish at the office

7. Skirt + converse = A modern and stylish look